The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-08-03
AFTER JOHANN MOST.
The Red MoIithed Anarchist
Charged with Inciting In
cendiary Fires.
The New York Underwriters Are
Much Alarmed Over the
Situation.
New York special.l


The Tribune says: at the Office of a
firm of well-known insurance brokers, yes-
terday, it was said that the past six months
had been the most disastrous in the fire
record of any like period, save, of course,
in that embracing the Chicago aud Boston
fires. SO far as had been learned, only
two companies had made any money in
that six months. The matter has been dis
cussed in every Office and every association
of underwriters.
There is one striking phase of this mat
ter which has come TO the fore prominent
ly In few days, and that is the relation of
Herr Most and his sympathizers 10 many
Of those fires. AS indicative of the extent
to which insurance companies are being
aroused TO this question, tits only neces-
say to call attention TO special meeting
of the New York Board of Underwriters
held yesterday, TO discuss this very subject
and adopt ways and means to meet the
emergency. Herr Mosts book bearing
on the subject of dynamite and phos-
phorus as incendiary agents was considered
at length, especially his claim that many
recent fires were due to their use. Copies
of newspapers, the book itself, ana all
available information upon the point were
a week lefore handed over 10 the Commit
tee on Police and the Origin of Fires, with
instructions TO make q thorough investiga-
ton of the matter, and report upon some
plan which would check il possible, the
great increase in the number of fires which
were undoubtedly incendiary. On this
point member of the board said yester-
day:
John Most has become factor in the
subject of fire insurance. Our civilization
has come to pretty pass when such a red
mouthed, ranting anarchists utterances
have to be considered by fire insurance
companies, and means devised TO abate
their bapeful effects. 1 here is some means
of reaching this man, and what the law
can do will soon be tried. lie openly
boasts in his book that recent fires are,
some of them at least, due to anarchists.
Whether true or not, his utterances have
their effect"
On the subject of averting disastrous
losses in fire insurance, remedies have been
considered by fire underwriters from time
10 time. Yesterday all phases of the mat
ter were taken up. One measure proposed
is that every person insured shall, in the
case of run in such extraordinary, and
for the companies exhausting losses, share
In n portion of his own loss. Another sug-
gestion was that known as the French sys-
tenn, In which every insured person must
pay for injury done TO contiguous prop
erty when tue fire starts on his own prem
Uses.
This city and vicinity have been the
great sufferers in the recent unprecedented
losses. Said Mr.. Kennedy yesterday: New
York has been the worst sufferer in the
last six months, although Chicago, Mil
waukee, and other cities have done theiI
best to keep up an undesirable rivalry
Just this morning we learn of another Chi
caeo fire; loss, S300.000."
One feature in insurance business which
has been brought TO light in the recent
losses is what are termed Jumbo" lines
and the matter is commented OH with sur
prise in insurance circles. BY this it is
meant that several companies which has
hitherto incurred risk of small percen.-
age have been insuring a much larger pei
cent, and thus running into the Jumbo
lines. Among those companies are said to
be some well-known companies of this city,
Brooklyn, and Chicago.
On the whole situation an insurance agent
said yesterday: IF this thing keeps up we
are going to stop; that's all. 1t is some
thing like the hot weather-we must have 9
let-up or perish"